How did Hajj caravans travel in the past?

Due to the Corona epidemic, a limited number of people living in Saudi Arabia have been allowed to perform Hajj this year. With the passage of time, there has been a gradual increase in the transport and accommodation facilities provided to the pilgrims in the last several decades.

But the question is important that decades ago and especially a hundred years ago, which means of transportation used by pilgrims to perform Hajj rituals.

In ancient times, due to lack of modern travel facilities, Hajj was a difficult journey. It used to take months for the pilgrims to reach the holy places from their hometowns.

According to Al-Arabiya Urdu, the General Syndicate of Buses says that after the establishment of the Saudi state, new means of transport were introduced for the journey of pilgrims. In 1924, camels were replaced by carts for Hajj travel.

In ancient times, pilgrims were taken to the Hajj places by camels. The people who managed this were called al-Marjjun and al-Maqmoon. Al-Makhrjun used to load and unload goods and put and unload pilgrims on camels. Their scope was limited to Makkah.

There was another group called Al-Muqmoon. It was his responsibility to provide rides to the pilgrims to visit the Hajj places. These people used to go to Jeddah and Medina along with the pilgrims. This system ended in 1945.

In Saudi Arabia, a bus used to run for Hajj by the name of ‘Alluri’ (Lorry). Like other cities of the kingdom, Hajj transport in Makkah, Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat has gradually set the journey of development.

The General Syndicate of Buses says that the transport sector has developed worse during Hajj days during the last decades.

Saudi Arabia first established the General Syndicate of Buses in 1948. It continued for four years, then in March 1953, Shah Abdul Aziz issued a decree establishing the General Syndicate of Buses II. Its management was given to the Radio and Hajj Organization, while the responsibility of supervision was given to the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.

The General Syndicate of Buses plays an important role in the implementation of the Hajj Transport Plan.

The syndicate arranges various types of buses for the transportation of pilgrims.

It was started with lorries, which were used to transport goods, then school buses were used. In the late 20th century, modern buses came into use.

The syndicate has opened doors for investment in Hajj transport. This year, 68 transport companies and institutions are participating in Hajj transport.

This transport syndicate has 20 thousand buses. The syndicate has not only organized modern buses but also increased the penetration of e-system in Hajj transport.